Switching handle



O. C. WILLIS SWITCHING HANDLE Filed May 1, 1920 "El-EH51]. 1 mm Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,517,811 PATENT OFFICE;

OLO C. WILLIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE P. A. GEIER COMPANY, O'E CLEVELAND, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

SWITCHING HANDLE.

Application filo-d May 1, 1920. Serial No. 378,322.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLo C. WILLIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switching Handles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switching handles such as are particularly adapted for use with electrically actuated appliances adapted for manual. use. More particularly, the handle of my inventon is designed and adapted for the actuation and control of suction cleaning apparatus; the needs of which are exacting and peculiar.

I am aware that in certain prior handle structures provided for a similar purpose, upwardly protruding switch members have been designed, which are adapted and intended to be actuated by a sliding movement of the thumb. This mode of actuation,how over, necessitated by the above construction requires the realease of the handle by the operatives thumb. Moreover, such prior switches are not intended nor adapted for ready removal, inspection and repair. These results, on the contrary, are attained in my improved construction by providing an electrical unit which is easily removable from the handle.

In the operation of electrically actuated suction cleaning apparatus of the portable type, it is highly important to provide a handle member which will afford the most convenient and ready control, not only of the operation of the motor, but the position and manipulation of the cleaning nozzle. For this purpose I have "found that an an gularly disposed pistol grip in association with an adjacent trigger switch lever are extremely convenient and effective.

The object of my invention is the provision, not only of these convenient mechanical means, but a removable electric unit associated therewith, comprising a compact switch and connecting cords extending to the fixture socket and preferably through the tubular handle member to the motor of 1 the suction cleaner or other appliance.

My improvements may be more readily set forth and the advantages thereof specifically recited in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partially broken away, showing the assembled switching handle and electric unit in their preferred embodiment. Fig. 2 is a similar View wherein the switch and mounting plate are shown as removed from the bandle member; the conducting cords being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33. i

The same character of reference is employed to indicate similar parts as they appear in the drawings. v

A tubular member a of suitable length" is provided with an angularly extending pistol grip b which is secured to the member a by means of the metallic casting 0 slotted along its under side at 0. Previously, certain handle members of the general type set forth have been provided with a terminal switching device, but it is more convenient in every way to employ a terminal pistol grip, as shown. In consequence, I have devised an electrical unit adapted to be inserted and attachedin the position of the lateral slot 0, which extends to within a short distance of the pistol grip at one end,

and of the split securing collar 0 .at the other end.

A mounting plate (Z is adapted removably to close said slot 0, whereon there are provided a switch trigger e, a suitable electric switch 6 operated by the trigger, and

conducting cords f and f. The latter extends through the tubular member a to connecting terminals" 7 for the motor, while the former a terminal screw plug 9' adapted to be inserted in a fixture or wall socket. The screws'd separably attach the unit, through its mounting 1 plate, to the casting 0, thereby closing the receiving slot 0'. A-pin a ma also be provided with advantage for loc ing the casting a against.-v 1rarely tendency to turn upon the tubular memr a. a

In the manipulation of a portable suction cleaner, it frequently is necessary slightly to tilt, and thereby break the seal of the nozzle, in order to afford a sudden inrush of air and pick up small particles. The rig- Furthermore, the switch trigger, posi-T tioned as it is for the convenient and almost instantaneous actuation ofthe users first finger, afiords the most eflicient means known to me for the electrical control of the connected appliance. This may not appear to be of much importance upon first impression, but the fact remains that not 6 infrequently the fan of the suction cleaner should be instantly stopped, as whena portion of a curtain or hanging is drawn accidentally into the nozzle. With the ordinary type of switch control, two or more fingers,

10 or the disengaged hand'of the operative, are

required to turn the switch on or off, with some attendant delay. This obviously is not the case with my improved construction, for the reason that the finger is invariably in position, with the users hand upon the pistol grip, either to turn the switch off or on at a moments notice. This is accomplished without removing the hand from the pistol grip or losing manual control of the attached suction sweeper.

but the switch parts themselves, in the event that the handle falls or is struck violently to the floor. Moreover, the trigger will not catch, either to operate the switch inadvertently or break the switch parts, when the" suction cleaner is used beneath articles of furniture, such as pianos, tables, couches and the like. It will also be observed that the spring-protected conducting cord f is brought out of the mounting plate at a suflicient distance beyond the trigger so that it will not foul the trigger or impede its operation in any position in which the sucti-on cleaner may be used.

Having now described'the preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. A switching handle of the class described, comprising a pistol grip, an associated tubular portion laterally slotted along its under side and angularly connected with the grip, a mounting plate normally closing said slot and a downwardly protruding switch trigger mounted thereon adjacent to said pistol grip in position 'to be readily actuate by the finger of the operative, substantially as set forth.

2. A switching handle of the class described, comprising a pistol grip, an associated tubular portion at an an le tlwrewith having a lower portion laterally cut away, a mounting plate normally closing said opening, means for removably attaching it in position, a switch trigger and conducting 00rd carried by said mounting plate and adapted to be removed and re )laced therewith; said switch trigger being disposed closely adjacent to the pistol grip in position to be readily actuatdd by the finger of the operative, substantially as set forth.

3. A switching handle of the class described, comprising a tubular receptacle laterally slotted along a portion of its under side, a mounting plate normally and removably positioned to cover said slot, a switch carried on the inner side of said plate, a conducting cord unit extending through said plate to and from the switch, a switch trigger exteriorly positioned on the mounting plate for operating the switch, and an angularly extending istol grip adjacent to the trigger, substantlally as set forth.

. 4. A switching handle of the class described, comprising a slotted tubular handle portion, a mounting plate and closure therefor, a switch mounted thereon and normally positioned within the handle portion, conducting cords extending to and from said switch, a switch trigger pivoted upon said mounting plate, means for removably mounting the foregoing as a separable unit within the slotted handle portion, n'ieans for connecting said handle portion to a handle, and an angularly extending pistol grip upon said handle portion adjacent to the trigger, substantially as set forth.

5. A switching handle of the class described, comprising a tubular shank-portion laterally slotted to receive the switch, a mounting plate normally but reniovably covering said slot, a switch mounted a on the inner side of said plate and adapted to be inserted laterally within the slot, :1 switch trigger adjacent to the outer end of the plate, a conducting cord adjacent to the other end of the late and extending to the switch. and a handle-portion extending at an angle from the shank-portion in prptective position above the trigger, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do now aflix my signature.

01.0 c. WILLIS. 

